Bradley Birth instructor equates nursing with 'maid service'

imenid37 · Jun 7, 2006

I find her lack of respect for my level of knowledge as a nurse, quite offensive. I am not a maid. I am a highly educated caregiver who tries to respect my patients and theirwishes, even when I do not always agree with them. I am a patient advocate and a professional. Frankly, I think this person's statement represents her as a pompous ass. As a nurse, you may be in a position to give her the type of advertising she does not want. Others may say to you they are thinking of Bradley and thinking of using her as an instructor. Birth is not a personal ego trip. It is possibly the most important and most difficult thing one will ever do for another human being. It is vital to feel secure and cared for during this process. Though my idea of how to achieve this may not always be exactly the same as my patient's, I do respect the opinions and differences between people. I think my scope of practice goes a tad bit beyond maid service.

tryingtomakeit, RN · Jun 7, 2006

I think you handled things wonderfully. A lot of people in the world seem to think the louder you are, the more "right" you are. I think your absence from the class will speak volumes. You have the workbook. Take the good things from it. Discard the rest. I would probably, at the very least, find out who her supervisor is and give him or her an ear full though. The things she is saying could make for a very bad situation in an actual emergency. The patient could refuse an intervention that could potentially save the life of her unborn child if she doesn't have the confidence that her "maid" knows what she is doing. I don't think her supervisor would want this risk hanging over his/her head.

On another note, congratulations on your expected arrival and your new nursing career!

sunnyjohn · Jun 7, 2006

I.....
Maybe having the class on 06/06/06 got to her, but she seemed to do a complete 180. She was talking about birthing in a hospital, and trying to have a natural birth (ie, refusing to wear the hospital gown, refusing IVs, refusing to be NPO, etc) and told these horror stories in class, and how the nurse will come in and try to boss you around, but that you are there to be served, and that you should come into the hospital with the following mindset:
"the hospital is a hotel, and the nurses are the maids. The only thing they are responsible for is fetal heart rate, and for fixing up the room. They have no autonomy. Think of them as maids, and tell them what services you want."

THAT (the bold part) is EXACTLY the problem with Western patients today. They do have this mindset and do think the hospital is a hotel. Well if it is a hotel, don't get mad when you ahve to pay 5-star hotel rates with your next bill from the insurance company. Just like the nuts in the hotel mini bar, the tongue depressers in the hospital don't come cheap! :angryfire

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 7, 2006

I would be contacting her supervisor and whoever you think appropriate to inform them of her inappropriate comments. They were not only wrong and misguided (as you well know), they were offensive to you as a member of her class.

llg

HappyNurse2005, RN · Jun 7, 2006

All that college education, and I'm just a maid? Ha. If thats what she thinks, lets pick up one of the maids from the Holiday Inn to come take care of her in the hospital.

You're right, though. Many, many patients think like this. It's the mindset of the "gimme gimme gimme" culture

Merovingienne · Jun 8, 2006

A few people have said that she should be reported to her supervisor. As I understand it, there is no supervisor for Bradley; if someone is interested in becoming an instructor, you take a course and then you are certified as an instructor by the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth. Then you can advertise as such, and schedule private classes.

tryingtomakeit, RN · Jun 8, 2006

A few people have said that she should be reported to her supervisor. As I understand it, there is no supervisor for Bradley; if someone is interested in becoming an instructor, you take a course and then you are certified as an instructor by the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth. Then you can advertise as such, and schedule private classes.

Then the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth is who I would contact.

darlanow · Jun 8, 2006

I agree with other posters that a report to the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth is in order, as is a direct response to her about the inaccuracy of her analogy and statements in class. You mentioned you were writing an email...you seem to be level-headed and a well thought out response certainly would have merit here. I might consider forwarding one to your birthing center as well - especially if they give referrals to birthing classes and instructors.

Perhaps you can finish class with another instructor. My queasy husband and I went through Bradley classes before the birth of our daughter in 1995 and the entire experience was wonderful - not only did he cut the cord, he actually asked if he could "catch" the baby (doc said, "kind of late in the game to plan for that, but you can be right here by me..." ) While I had my baby without any meds, etc. (despite 29 hours of labor!), several people in our class ended up opting for medical interventions and the instructor was nothing but supportive, saying that the end result of a healthy baby was the focus and that she hoped what they had gained from class was helpful in their experience. Our entire class had a reunion after all the babies had arrived and my instructor and her family attended my daughter's first birthday party. Class wins out over dogma and pettiness every time!

Darla

tryingtomakeit, RN · Jun 8, 2006

I agree with other posters that a report to the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth is in order, as is a direct response to her about the inaccuracy of her analogy and statements in class. You mentioned you were writing an email...you seem to be level-headed and a well thought out response certainly would have merit here. I might consider forwarding one to your birthing center as well - especially if they give referrals to birthing classes and instructors.
Perhaps you can finish class with another instructor. My queasy husband and I went through Bradley classes before the birth of our daughter in 1995 and the entire experience was wonderful - not only did he cut the cord, he actually asked if he could "catch" the baby (doc said, "kind of late in the game to plan for that, but you can be right here by me..." ) While I had my baby without any meds, etc. (despite 29 hours of labor!), several people in our class ended up opting for medical interventions and the instructor was nothing but supportive, saying that the end result of a healthy baby was the focus and that she hoped what they had gained from class was helpful in their experience. Our entire class had a reunion after all the babies had arrived and my instructor and her family attended my daughter's first birthday party. Class wins out over dogma and pettiness every time!
Darla

What a wonderful experience that must have been! Thanks for sharing!

2curlygirls · Jun 8, 2006

I'm dying to know, are you in GA?

firstyearstudent · Jun 8, 2006

Heh heh. I can imagine that you took this personally, being a nurse, but I wouldn't. Some Bradley instructors can be really "out there" with paranoia about the healthcare system -- and let's face it, the paranoia isn't completely unjustified.

I think what she was trying to do with the "think of the nurse as a maid" thing was empower the mother. Many women are really intimidated by the nurses and doctors when they get to the hospital and don't have sense enough to refuse treatments they don't want (and, frankly, many nurses and doctors prefer to keep it that way).

I've given natural childbirth twice in hospitals and I've had supportive and unsupportive nurses. One especially helpful nurse faked not being able to give me an IV that I didn't want while I was in transition and even whispered in my ear "good for you, don't let them do anything you don't want" when I challenged an intern who tried to give me a shot of pitocin two seconds after I gave birth (some insane protocol they have now to prevent bleeding...).

As far as the birth plan. My nurses and doctors weren't the least bit interested, but it was still important to do because it helped me figure out what I did and didn't want.